There can be multiple factors contributing to your neck pain. Most of the time, self-care is enough for mild to moderate neck pain and could resolve on its own after a few days to a few weeks. However, if the neck pain is consistent or if the frequency or intensity increased, there may be something greater going on.
In some cases, when neck pain is left untreated, it can develop to chronic headaches, and secondary hypertension which could affect the patient’s life as this could lead to interrupted sleep, frequent missed days from work and even eventual disability.
It’s the reason why it’s essential to get in touch with a doctor for treatment, especially if the pain persists since they would be able to give proper treatment and prescribe certain medications. Physical therapy may also be helpful depending on the severity of the pain. You can get tests such as X-ray, CT scans and MRI scans to narrow down the cause of neck pain.
While western medicine is successful in most cases, some might find other forms of treatment such as acupuncture to be more effective for chronic neck pain.
Acupuncture is an ancient technique for pain relief and other uses that have been refined through the centuries in the East. This practice had been marginalized by mainstream medicine in the west and discussed with a dismissive air due to the lack of scientific research that the medical community found convincing.
The medical literature has been mixed regarding whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for chronic neck pain and stiffness. However, there had been a study that suggested that acupuncture can help ease the pain in the neck and some areas of the body as well as reduce the frequency of tension headaches and prevent migraine headaches.
Most patients seek out acupuncture therapy for pain relief after pain medicine has not achieved the desired result even though the procedure involves inserting needles as thin as a strand of hair into various parts of the body.
Acupuncture is a generally safe treatment when performed by an experienced and well-trained professional. When done right, the treatment could even feel relaxing though some people may experience minor bruising or bleeding after a needle is removed. However, if the procedure is improperly performed, it can cause serious side effects.
So before considering acupuncture, make sure it’s administered by a trained and licensed acupuncturist and talk to them and your doctor about whether this treatment would be best suited for your condition.
Acupuncture truly is an effective and safe way to help relieve your neck pain. Learn more about this treatment and how it could help ease your neck pain in this infographic by Kundao Wellness.
